After 32 years in prison for Brockton murder, man maintains freedom

Wednesday

Darrell Jones was released from prison after three decades in December when his conviction was overturned.

BROCKTON — A man freed from prison two months ago after serving 32 years for a city murder he maintains he didn't commit will remain out on bail.

Darrell Jones, 48, appeared in Brockton Superior Court on Wednesday morning for a status hearing after he was released from prison on $5,000 bail on Dec. 21.

Assistant District Attorney Jessica Kenny did not appeal the ruling Thursday that gave Jones new trial. A judge overturned his conviction in December after his attorneys cited evidence that a Brockton police officer gave false testimony during his trial and tampered with a videotaped witness interview.

The prosecutor asked Judge Angel Kelley Brown to set a 60-day date as the district attorney's office continues to re-evaluate their case.

"In the meantime, the commonwealth has had a homicide detective re-assigned to the case," Kenny said. "We're in the process of just identifying and locating a number of the witnesses. Obviously, from a trial 30 years ago, it's a bit of an undertaking. We're just trying to determine the posture of the case at this point with regard to them being available for a re-trial."

Jones' attorneys, Lisa Kavanaugh, John Barter and Neil Austin, mutually agreed to a new 60-day date. Kavanaugh said Jones has been in full compliance with the Probation Department since posting bail following the late December hearing.

The judge said the attorneys can file new discovery motions at the next status hearing, which is set for April 13.

For Jones, the prosecution's decision not to appeal his new trial was the first step in the right direction.

"They don't want to appeal. That's clear," Jones said outside the courtroom on Wednesday morning. "We come back in 60 days and deal with the status hearing as to where they're going to come with new evidence, unless they pick it up on Mars."

Since the Nov. 11, 1985 shooting death of Guillermo Rodrigues, Jones has maintained his innocence. Rodrigues was killed in the parking lot of the now-closed D'Angelo's Sandwich Shop, at 46 Montello St., across the street from the old Pete and Mary's Bar.

Jones, at the age of 19, was convicted of murder in Plymouth Superior Court on Oct. 2, 1986. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The motion filed by Jones' attorneys for the new trial also cited racist comments made by jurors.

The freed man has now made it his mission to help others who he believes are wrongly imprisoned.

"We've got to get the next guy out. That's my mission," Jones said Wednesday. "If I use my time ... we still got people that are in there that I know with cases messed up."

Although the prosecution could file to have a new trial in the future, Jones remains happy that he can walk in and out the doors of the superior courthouse without handcuffs on.